Fly-trap.



Q Q MW Nos1s, 49s;. PATBNTED MAR. 27, 1906. J. B. F. PIERCE. FLY TRAP.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLY-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1996.

Application filed December 13,1905. Serial No. 291,618.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL B. F. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at OX- ford, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fly-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flytraps, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive construction of trap whereby flies collected upon the ceiling of a room may be quickly and conveniently caught and destroyed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fly-trap embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the handle and frame and a vertical section through the trap proper. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the funnel. Fig. 4. is a similar view of the trap-body with the funnel removed.

It is well known that flies collect upon the ceiling of a room or apartment at night, and the main purpose of my invention is toprovide a trap device which may be conveniently applied to the ceiling to surround a number of flies and which is so constructed as to utilize the illuminating equipment of the room to attract the inclosed flies into the body of the net.

The device comprises a supporting frame or yoke composed of a pair of spaced arms 1, preferably formed of wire, said arms being convergently related and joined at their lower ends and suitably connected with a manipulating-handle 2. Mounted upon the upper ends of the arms is a rim-band 3, and disposed between the arms is a net 4, formed of some suitable reticulated material, such as wire or fabric netting. This net is in the shape of a conical bag having its enlarged end uppermost and clamped against the body of the rim or band 3 by a flange 5, formed upon said riin, auxiliary fastenings being employed to secure and reinforce the parts, if required. Disposed within the upper enlarged open end of the net is a funnel-shaped mouth or entrance member 6, provided at its apex or reduced end with a slot or entrance-passage 7, communicating with the interior of the net. The upper end of the funnel-mouthpiece is formed with a cylindrical portion 8, bearing against the flange 5, an overhanging rimshoulder 9, resting upon the upper edge of said flange, and a downwardly, inwardly, and

'upwardly bent flange 10, bearing against the outer face of the rim-band 3 and forming with the parts 5 and 9 a clasp to engage said band, and thereby removably secure the funnel-mouthpiece thereto.

In using the device the trap is elevated by means of its handle 2 until the shoulder 9 rests against the surface of the ceiling and incloses a colony of flies collected thereon. The funneLmouthpiece 6, which is opaque, will thereby prevent the light from the illuminating-fixtures within the room from pass ing through to the obscured portion of the ceiling, except through the slot 7. The light shining through the slot 7 will act as a lure to attract the flies and cause them to pass therethrough as the only perceived possible avenue of escape, and they will therefore pass into the net 4 and become entrapped. The device is then withdrawn from engagement with the ceiling and the flies may be destroyed by immersing the net in water or in any other preferred manner. By this mode of operation all the flies within a room or apartment may be quickly and conveniently caught and destroyed. Upon removing the funnel 6 the contents of the net may be discharged.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A fly-trap comprising a net having a bearing portion to rest against a ceiling and an opaque mouth or entrance portion provided with an opening communicating with the interior of the net, and means for manipulating the trap.

2. A fly-trap comprising a trap-body having a bearing portion to rest against a ceiling, an opaque mouth portion having an entranceopening leading into the body, and means for manipulating the trap-body.

3. A fly-trap comprising a trap-body having an upper open end provided with a bearing portion to rest against a ceiling, an opaque funnel-shaped mouthpiece projecting therein and provided at its reduced end with an opening communicating therewith, and means for manipulating the trap-body.

4. A fly-trap comprising a trap-body having an open upper end provided with a bearing portion to rest against a ceiling, an opaque funnel-shaped mouth or entrance member removably mounted upon the upper end of the body and projecting therein and provided its reduced end with an entrance-opening 16 with an entrance-opening at its reduced end, communicating therewith, and a manipulatand means for manipulating the trap-body. ing-handle attached to the frame.

5'. A flytrap comprising a supporting- In testimony whereof I affix my signature frame, a net carried thereby and having an in presence of two Witnesses. upper open end, an opaque funnel-shaped JOEL B. F. PIERCE. mouth or entrance member removably Witnesses: mounted upon the frame and projecting into BERTHA G. CHAFFEE,

the opening end of the net and provided at EDWIN W. W. BROWN. 

